Packer valve with slips and usages thereof



Jan. 30, 1968 J. M. MCCALL PACKER VALVE WITH SLIPS AND USAGES THEREOF 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 51, 1965 A al'l' lvi g M. M CALL INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 30, 1968 PACKER VALVE Filed March 51, 1965 J. M M CALL WITH SLIPS AND USAGES THEREOF 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Joy/v M.M CALL ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,366,181 PACKER VALVE WHTH SLIPS AND USAGES THEREOF John M. McCall, 5031 Hartwick, Houston, Tex. 77016 Filed Mar. 31, 1965, Ser. No. 444,259 7 Claims. (Cl. 166-72) ABSTRAQT OF THE DISCLOSURE Invention is in small valve with outer, tubular rod releasably connected to small valve housing to pass it through closable structure including larger valve with tubing below. Inner rod through closure releasably engages small valve mandrel which is threadedly engaged in housing and carries wedge means urging slip jaws through housing Windows against tubing, and also urging head of packer setter inter-slotted with housing so that packer setter sets packer surrounding housing against tubing, as packer is retained by housing closure. Rods, after being retrieved, may be re-engaged to receive small valve. Features thus permit various usages.

This invention rel-ates to a valve including a closure packer and slips and it also relates to usages thereof, as passing the valve through a larger valve in a tubing to a selective location therein and effecting anchored closure at such location.

In the particular the valve may be passed through the master valve of an oil well Christmas tree to close off the tubing or production string therebelow while the master valve may be removed to be serviced and rerepaired.

Consequently, as a primary object this invention sets out to provide a valve including a closure packer and slips, and valve stem structure, all passable through a larger valve structure to a selective location to set the slips and expand the packer to seal ofl at such location; the valve stem structure then being removable, and later reinstalled to release the slips and packer and retrieve the valve.

Also, the invention has the object of providing a packer and slip equipped valve and usages thereof whereby the valve can be passed through a closure structure into a sealed off tubing under high pressure, and manipulated to seal off such tubing in order to permit repair or replacement of parts passed through; either mechanical means or hydraulic fluid being employable to set the slips and packer, withdraw the stem structure to release the slips and packer and retrieve the valve.

Another and important object of the invention comprises providing a valve of this class adapted for various usages, the valve being simply and inexpensively constructed, and designed to stand up in service and perform with reliability.

Other and further objects Will be apparent when the specification herein is considered in connection with the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, part in section, showing the closure valve included by this invention and its upwardly extending rods positioned in a well bore flow tubing with a Christmas tree master valve included within upper part of the flow tubing and a lubricator thereabove;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view, part in section, of the closure valve shown in small scale in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, part in section, taken along line 33 of FIG. '2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

33%,181 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 FIG. 5 is a sectional bottom view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the Wedge shown in plan view in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, part in section, of a modified structure if a valve stem arrangement whereby hydraulic fluid pressure may be used to position the closure valve in one operation, and to set the slips and packer in another operation;

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevational view showing an upper closure valve parts and constructions necessary to cooperate With the apparatus shown thereabove in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional elevational view of the adapter installed on the valve stem rod shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in the operation of releasing and retrieving the closure valve; and

FIG. 10 is a full line sectional elevational View of the adapter shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2 as disposed within the upper, central portion of the FIG. 2 view as a guide member.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are assigned to like elements in the various views, a closure valve 10 included by this invention is shown in FIG. 1 installed in the flow tubing 11 of a well 12, such as an oil and/or gas well. The flow tubing 11 is cemented by cement 14 into the casing 13 of the well 12, and a packer 15 on the valve bottom closure 16 seals off the well bore tubing 11 therebelow, a packer setter sleeve 17 having been moved downwardly to accomplish this function. Also the valve 10 has been anchored in the flow tubing 11 by the outward movement of slip jaws 18 at substantially the same time as the packer 15 has been set, both movements to be hereinbelow described.

An outer tubular member or rod 19 is shown connected to the closure valve housing 20 shortly below the top thereof by means of light shear pins 21, while an inner rod 22 having a forked lower end 84 to fit over a lug 85 on the upper end of an upper stern 50a, comprising part of the valve mandrel assembly 23, is thus connected by such fork to rotate the valve mandrel assembly 23, as will be hereinbelow described.

The flowing tubing 11 extends upwardly into any one of Christmas trees which are conventionally installed at the tops of flowing wells to control the volume and channelize the delivery of the produced oil and/ or gas. A master valve 24 in the flow tubing 11, including its bonnet section 27a and a housing section 27b, is installed in upper flow tubing section 11a, between an upper or master union 28 and a lower union 25, a conventional lubricator 29 being shown in FIG. 1 as connected to the upper flow section 11a by means of the master union 28.

Such a conventional lubricator 29 includes upper and lower compartments 30a, 30b rigidly interconnected by vertical arms 31. Upper and lower Ts 33a and 33b extend from the respective compartments 30a and 30b and are interconnected by a vertical header 32 having a control valve 34 therein above the lower T 33b, and thereabove a T 64 from which branches off a valve from which a flexible conduit or hose 81 returns fluid to the section side of the pump, not shown. A lower pressure gauge 35 extends from the lower T 33bto measure fluid pressure in the lower lubricator compartment 30b and an upper pressure gauge 37 is connected above the upper T 311a to measure the header pipe fluid pressure above the control valves 34 and 80. Also a valve 44 is connected between the upper pressure gauge 37 and the upper T 33a, and a fluid delivery hose 36 is connected to deliver fluid to the valve 44, as from a pump, not shown.

A lubricator fluid pipe 38 is connected to the top of the upper lubricator compartment 30a to upstand thereabove. A fluid delivery passage 39a in the upper compartment 30a connects the T with the interior of the fluid pipe 33 and a corresponding fluid delivery passage 39!) connects the lower T 33b to deliver fiuid into the upper end of the flow tubing 11.

An uppermost stufling box and gland assembly 40 sealably closes the upper end of the fluid housing 33 about the inner rod 22. The outer rod 19 is correspondingly sealably closed about the inner rod 22 by the flanged gland 41a of a stuiling box and gland assembly 41.

With the master valve 24 closed, lubricator 29 having respective outer and inner rods 19, 22 installed therethrough, is connected to the top of the flow tubing 11 by means of the master union 28. Prior thereto the rods 19, 22 have been installed through the lubricator 29 by loosening the top stufiing box and gland assembly 40, 46a, and disposing it slidably around the top of the inner rod 22. Then the rods 19, 22, are inserted into the pipe housing 38 and through the loosened upper gland 42a at the bottom of the lubricator upper compartment 300 and through the loosened lower gland 43a at the top of the lubricator lower compartment 36b. Then the loosened glands 42a, 43a are tightened in their respective stufling box and gland assemblies 42, 43 and the uppermost gland 46a is tightened in the stuf'ring box and gland assembly 40.

The rods 19, 22 then can extend below the lubricator 29 where the inner rod 22 is connected by fork-lug engagement to the upper valve stem 59a, while the outer, tubular rod 19 is connected to the exterior of the upper end of the valve housing by light shear pins 21, as aforesaid. The lower end of the lubricator lower compartment 30b may be threadably connected to the top of the flow tubing 11 by means of the master union 28, while the closure valve 19, with the lower ends of the rods 19, 22 connected thereto, is disposed in the upper part of the flow tubing 11 above the master valve 24.

The lower stuffing box and g and assembly 43 can now withstand the well bore pressure in the flow tubing 11 and prevent leakage around the outer rod 19, so that it is safe to open the master valve 24.

The header pipe control valve 34 may now be closed and the valve 44 at the top of the delivery hose 36 opened, and hydraulic pressure fluid pumped through the hose 36, upper part of the header pipe 32, upper T 33a and upper delivery passage 39a through the upper compartment 36a into the lubricator housing 38. The fiuid pressure in the lubricator housing 38 is then built up in excess of the opposing pressure effective in the flow tubing 11 therebelow.

The excess of fluid pressure within the housing 38 acts upon the Outer rod 19 as such is closed by the flanged gland 41a around the inner rod 22, so that the outer rod serves as a piston or plunger, and is moved downwardly by the fluid pressure until the valve 10 is positioned at a desired predetermined location below the master valve 24, as the gland flange 41a comes to a stop against the upper lubricator compartment 30a.

When the valve 10 has been transferred down to the desired location, the valve 34 in the header pipe 32 may be closed and the fluid pump which discharges into the hose 36 may be stopped. Then a torque wrench 45 may be placed on the inner rod 22 as it extends above the uppermost stufling box and gland assembly 40, while a spanner wrench 46 is placed on the outer rod 19 as it extends through the open space 47 between upper and lower compartments 30a, 3612 as one of the vertical arms 31 of the lubricator 29 acts as a stop for the spanner wrench.

The torque wrench 4-5 is then turned as the spanner wrench 46 holds the outer rod 19 from turning, and the rotation of the inner rod 22 sets the slip jaws 18 and packer 15 as will be hereinbelow described in connection with the following description of the construction of the valve 10.

In detail, the valve 16 provides a mandrel or stem assembly 23 which includes an upper stem 59a and a lower stem 59b. The upper stem 56a has a smooth diameter upper section 51 terminating upward in a prong or lug 85, which is adapted to be engaged by the forked lower end 84 of the inner rod 22 hereinabove described. Therebelow the upper stem a includes a lower, externally threaded section 53 and as its lowermost element the upper stem 50a provides a member which may be termed the upper flange 54 of the mandrel or stem assembly 23.

The housing 20 of the valve 10 has opposed windows 59 therein and therebelow it has opposed slots 61 at ninety degrees to the windows 59. The slots 61 extend downwardly through the lower end 62 of the housing 29, the lower section of the housing 20 is of reduced externally threaded outer diameter 63. Also, the upper end 88 of the housing 20 is externally threaded, as will be hereinbelow described.

A bushing 65 having an internally threaded bore 66 therethrough is insertable over the upper section 51 of the upper stem 50:: and initially threaded full up on the externally threaded lower section 53 of the upper stem 50a to terminate just above the upper flange 54. Then the upper stem 500, with bushing 65 threaded thereon, is inserted into the upper end of the housing 20 and a set screw 52 is inserted in the set screw bore 26 and tightened to bear against the bushing 65 to anchor it as shown in FIG. 2, with the top of the bushing 65 substantially flush with the top of the housing 20.

Then a wedge 67 is installed with its bore 68 to receive the upper part of the lower stem 53b therethrough, the larger width of the wedge 67 being uppermost. The lower stem 50b has been installed by passing it upwardly through the housing 26 and the slip jaws 18 are positioned in the windows 59 so that the tapered wedge faces 69 of angularly extending T-shaped wedge members 70 engage the lower ends of angularly extending T-slots 71 in the slip jaws 18.

The lower stem 50b with the wedge 67 thereon is then urged further upwardly in the housing 20 until its threaded upper end is in contact with the threaded axial bore 56 in the lower end of the upper stem 50a. Then the upper stem 5% and lower stem 50b are manipulated to threadably engage the lower stem upper end 60 in the upper stem axial bore 56, whereby the lower end of the wedge 67 will have been brought substantially to the elevation of the lower ends of the slip jaws 18. In this case the slip jaws 18 are in their innermost or retracted position. In the course of making the connection between upper and lower stems 50a, 50/), it may be necessary to remove the set screw 52 from the bushing and thereafter replace it.

Below the wedge 67 a packer setter 72 is provided with a cylindrical or round head 73 to be inserted in the lower end of the valve body or housing 20 in manner that a bridge or cross-member 74 below the head 73, which connects the head 73 to the top of the packer setter ring or sleeve 17 can slide in the opposed slots 61, which extend upwardly through the lower, open end 62 of the housing 20, while the packer setter ring or sleeve 17 can slide on the exterior of the valve housing 20 and over the upper end 76 of the valve bottom closure 16, such upper end 76 being internally threaded to receive the externally threaded lower end 62 of the housing therein.

A conventional rubber sleeve or cylinder 15, known as a packer, is slidable on the bottom closure 16 above a shoulder or flange 75 thereon, the bottom closure below this flange 75 being in the shape of a truncated cone 79. In operative or unset position the rubber sleeve or packer 15 extends upwardly and over the aligned slots 61, 77 in the respective lower end 62 of the valve body 20 and upper end 76 of the bottom closure 16, and the natural resilience or spring of the rubber is enough to maintain the rubber in its normal or expanded state. Also, a setscrew 58 is provided to pass threadably through the lower part 63 of the housing or valve body 20, and through the upper part of the closure flange 75, to bear against the packer setter sleeve 17, and to keep the slots 61, 77 in alignment. However, when the packer 15 has been set, as shown in FIG. 2, it may stick in its compressed position and for that reason a return spring 78 is shown bearing downwardly upon the base or surface at the bottom of the drilled and tapped bore of the closure 16.

The lower stem Sub terminates in a lower flange 48 which is moved downwardly by the rotation of the inner rod 22 when such is engaged with the upper stem 50a, and the lower face of the lower flange 48 bears on top of the packer setter head 73, thereby urging the packer setter ring or sleeve 17 to compress the packer 15, as it bears downwardly on the bottom closure flange 75. It is this motion which sets the packer 15 in the bore of the well tubing 11, and at the same time the relative movement of the wedge 67 with relation to the slip jaws 18 urges them outwardly to set the slip jaws.

During the time the valve is set in the well tubing, any Christmas tree parts, or other parts above ground are well protected against loss or harm from any well bore high fluid pressures acting up the well tubing 11. Thus the opened master valve 24 may be easily disassembled and removed, especially since the valve bonnet 27a and valve body 27b comprise two parts which may be pulled away horizontally from tubing thread engagement to be repaired and replaced, while at the same time the closure valve therebelow holds the well bore pressure.

The inner rod 22 may then be lifted by a lifting force applied above the lubricator 29.

Also, with the valve 10 set in the well tubing 11, it may be desirable to remove the inner and outer rods from the lubricator 29 for various purposes. In this case such removal can be accomplished while the lubricator is still installed on the Christmas tree, by first opening the header pipe control valve 34 and closing the valve 44, thus to let the housing 38 drain off through the lower flow passage 3% and compartment 3%. Then, the uppermost packing gland and stuffing box assembly 40a, 40 may be unthreaded from the top of the pipe housing 38, the outer rod 19 rotated, as by a suitable wrench applied thereto in the space 47 between compartments 30a, 30b.

Outer rod rotation first shears the shear pins 21, and the rod 19 can then be lifted to extend above the pipe housing 38. Thereafter the top portion of the upper rod 19 may have the lifting force applied thereto so that the outer rod 19 can be lifted upwardly out of the lubricator 29. As to the inner rod 22, it can be lifted with very small effort to draw the fork 84 above the prong 85, and then to be lifted out of the lubricator.

In case it may now be desirable to replace the rods 19, 22 in order to retrieve the valve 10 by first unsetting its slips 18 and packer 15, this can be accomplished by installing an adapter 86 within the lower end of the outer rod 19, as by suitable setscrews 87, such adapter being shown in FIG. 10 and in phantom lines in FIG. 2. As shown in full lines in FIG. 10, the adapter 86 has first been drilled centrally to provide a bore 86a slightly greater than the outer diameter of the inner rod 22; with the upper part of the adapter 86 then being countersunk to provide a guide surface 57 to guide the rod 22 into the bore 86a. Also, the lower part of the adapter 86 has been counterbored and internally threaded with threads 86b for engagement with the externally threaded upper end 88 of the valve housing 20. With the adapter 86, constructed as hereinabove described, thus installed, the outer rod can be lowered through the lubricator 29, now re-installed above the master union 28. Then with the repaired or newly installed master valve 24 open, the outer rod 19 may be passed downwardly therethrough to thread the adapter 86 upon the externally threaded upper end 88 of the valve housing 20.

Then the inner rod 22 may be passed downwardly through the outer rod 19, and the stuffing box and gland assembly 41, 41a tightened about the inner rod 22, as installed in the top of the outer rod 19. Then with the top of the outer rod 19 below the top of the pipe housing 38, the uppermost stuffing box and gland assembly 40, 40a may be re-installed in the top of the pipe housing 38 and tightened about the inner rod 22. Then the header pipe control valve 34 may be closed, the valve 44 opened, and the pump, not shown, started up to supply fluid into the pipe housing 38, as aforesaid, to move the outer rod 19 downwardly in the pipe housing 38. In this case the repaired or newly installed master valve 24 is opened, and the outer rod is carried downwardly until the lower end of the adapter 86 is flush with the top of the valve housing 20. Then the valve 44 may be closed, and the outer rod 19 rotated, as by a suitable wrench applied through the lubricator open space 47, thus to threadably engage the outer rod 19 upon the upper end 88 of the valve housing.

Then the inner rod 22 may be further lowered so that its forked end 84 passes guidably through the countersunk upper end 57 of the adapter 86, to engage with the prong or stem lug of the valve upper stem 50a. Then the inner rod 22 may be rotated, as by a wrench applied above the top of the lubricator 29, and the upper stern 50a with the lower stern 50b moved upwardly, by virtue of the upper stem thread engagement 53, 66 within the bushing 65. As this occurs the packer 15 is free to ex pand to its normal-length and to lift the packer setter 72 to follow upwardly after the lower stem flange 48. AS aforesaid the upwardly movement of the packer setter 72 may be further assured by a return spring 78 which seats upon the base or spring seat 48 provided within the drilled and tapped upper end 7-6 of the valve bottom closure 16.

As a special feature of construction, a set screw or set screws 58 may be provided to insure the alignment of the slots 61, 77 of the respective housing 20 and bottom closure 16 when the housing lower part 63 and bottom closure upper end 76 are threadably engaged.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the hydraulic fluid header apparatus shown in FIG. 1 may be employed with the exception that an additional control valve 34a is provided above the T 64. As installed in this form of the invention, the lower horizontal line of fittings 96, including the lower T 33b, is connected into the upper compartment 30a to communicate with the flow passage 39a therein, and the upper horizontal line of fittings 97, including the upper T 33a, is connected into the lubricator pipe header or upper chamber 38 just below the uppermost stuffing box and gland assembly 40b, 400 which sealably closes the tubular rod 19a corresponding with the outer rod 19 in FIGS 1-6, inclusive.

In detail, the lower horizontal line of fittings 96 includes a valve 83 therein just outwardly of the upper lubricator compartment 30a, and outwardly thereof an inner lower T and next the aforesaid lower T 33b, and outermost the lower pressure gauge 35. The header 32 has the valve 34 therein immediately above the lower T 33b, thereabove the T 64, thereabove first the valve 34a and then the upper T 33a, with the upper pressure gauge 37 uppermost, and the inlet or fluid supply valve 44 connected into the top of the header 32 between the upper pressure gauge 37 and the upper T 33a, as aforesaid. Also, as in the preceding arrangement, a return fluid control valve 80 is provided in a branch line from the T 64, and to which is connected the return flexible conduit or hose 81.

A flexible conduit or hose 89 is connected to the upper end of a valve 181 above the inner lower T 90 and such extends to a branch T 9 1 which is installed just outwardly of an inlet fitting 92 into the top of the tubular rod 1 9a just under its top closure plug 93. Also, a flexible conduit or hose 94 is provided to extend from the outer leg of the T 91 to a valve 100 above an inner 95 in the upper horizontal line of fittings 97. Inwardly of the T 95 this line has therein the valve 98 and the connection fitting 99 into the rod 19a below the stutfing box and gland assembly 4011, 40c, and outwardly of the T 95 this line of fittings terminates in the upper T 33a hereinabove described.

The tubular rod 19a extends downwardly through the lubricator 29 and is manipulated for installation and removal to permit the performance of work of special character within the Christmas tree, substantially as hereinabove described. However, in this form of the invention the inner rod hereinabove described for the foregoing form of invention is not required.

Also, in this form of the invention, valve positioning, slip and packer setting, rod withdrawal, rod re-insertion, slip and packer release, and valve recovery, are all steps performed by the use of hydraulic fluid pressure. Thus, it follows that the modification shown in FIG. 8 made in the upper part of the valve a are necessary, and also a special retrieving adapter is required as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the upper part of the valve body a is bored and counterbored from the underside to provide successive shoulders 102 and 103 thereabove, and a bored bridge or partition 104 above the shoulder 103. Also, from its upper end the valve body is bored and counterbored to provide a shoulder 105 and a shoulder 106 thereabove. A centrally bored plate 121 having ports 107 therein is then press-fitted into position on the shoulder 103. Then an assembly is provided including an upper stern 500 having the conventional lower stem flange 4-8, and the shank 55 thereabove. A guide plate 108 i first inserted over the shank 55, and then a spring 109, and finally a plunger or piston head 110 is press-fitted or pinned to the top of the shank 55. Then the guide plate 108 is press-fitted into position on the shoulder 102.

A dash-pot type plunger valve 111 is provided including upwardly a flange 112 to serve as a piston or plunger head, and a shank 113 extending downwardly therefrom. The plunger valve 111 is centrally bored from the top for a substantial depth and lateral ports 114 extend from the shank surface into the central bore 115. A spring 116 is first installed to rest upon the partition or bridge 104 and the plunger valve shank 113 is extended downwardly through the spring 116 and through the central bore through the partition 104, through a chamber 117 provided therebelow, and through the central bore through the plate 121, the peripheral surface of the flange being sealably slidable within the respective counterbore of the valve body 20a. Finally, above the plunger valve 111 an upper guide and Stop plate 118 is provided having a central bore 119 therethrough.

In this form of the invention the lower end 120 of the tubular rod 19a is turned down to provide an outer shoulder 122 thereon against which the end face of counterbored upper end 123 of the body 20a may bear in asesmbly, while the lower end face of the rod lower end 120 falls short of contact with the uppermost shoulder 106 in the valve body 200 by a slight tolerance. The connection between the rod 19a and body 20a is made by shear pins 124 passing laterally into the walls of these members. The rod 19a is externally threaded for a distance 125 below its lower end 120, and the valve body 20a has an external groove 127 therein at a spaced distance below the top thereof, both for purposes to be hereinbelow described.

The lubricator pipe housing or top chamber 38a is above the lubricator upper compartment flanged gland 41a. As shown in FIG. 7, the rod 19a has been moved to its point of lowermost travel, which has been accomplished delivering pumped fluid through the hose 36 with the valves 44 and 98 open and the valves 100 and 34a closed, fluid below the piston flange 126 returning, with the valves 83, 34, and 80 open and the valve 101 closed, to

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the hose 81 which returns the fluid to a reservoir or to the suction side of the pump, not shown.

After the rod 19a, with the valve 102 assembled on the lower end thereof, has been passed through the lubricator 29 and Christmas tree as hereinabove described, the lubricator lower compartment stufling box and gand assembly 43, 43a, as tightened, will hold the Well tubing pressure, while the closure valve 10a is in position to have its slip jaws and packers set. At this point the valves 98 and 83 may be closed, so that the rod 19a is fluid locked in lower position. Then, with the valves 44 and open, and the additional valves 34a and 101 closed, the pump, not shown, may run to supply fluid into the top of the rod 190 until it is filled, and as the pump continues running the pressure fluid will urge the piston or flange head 112 downwardly to compress the spring 116 and also to move the shank 113 downwardly to place the ports 114 in communication with the chamber 117.

The fluid passes by the dash-pot principle, down the central bore 115 in the plunger valve 111 and out the ports 114 and through the chamber 117 and ports 107 to urge downwardly on the piston flange on top of the upper stem 500 of the valve mandrel assembly 23a, as the spring 109 underneath the piston flange 110 is correspondingly compressed. As a lower stem 50d is threadably connected into the lower end of the upper stem 50c, and as this stern 50d, and all parts therebelow are identical with the corresponding parts in the valve 10 shown in FIGS. 16, inclusive, the result is the setting of the slip jaws 13 by their being moved horizontally outwardly through their angular or tapered sliding engagement with the slip jaws 18, as the wedge 67 surrounds the lower stem shank 55 which is urged downwardly with the downward movement of the upper stem 50c. Also, the flange, not shown, on the lower end of the lower stem 50d, sets the packer, also not shown, but in correspondence with the setting of the packer in the form of invention shown in FIGS. 16, inclusive. With the slip jaws and packer set, the valve 100 may now be closed so that the slips and packer are in fluid locked closed position.

The rod 19a may now be moved to upper position above the master valve 24 in the Christmas tree or removed entirely from the Christmas tree. To accomplish this, the hose 36 and 81 may be switched so that the hose 36 is connected to the reservoir or suction side of the pump, and the hose 81 is connected to the discharge or delivery side of the pump, not shown. Then, with the valves 34a, 101, and 100 closed, and the valves 80, 34, 83, 98 and 44 open, fluid may be delivered into the upper chamber or pipe housing 38a, by way of the fluid passage 39a, to lift against the piston flange 126, whereby the shear pins 124 are sheared so that the fluid in the rod 19a empties out the lower end thereof as it passes upwardly. This relieves the pressure on plunger valve 111 so that it can move upwardly, responsive to the urging of the spring 116, to occlude the lateral ports 114 in the bridge or partition 114.

However, the plunger valve 111 can only move upwardly a minimum travel before the top of the flange 112 strikes the underside of the guide and stop plate 118. Thus there is a minimum expansion of the volume of the fluid below the plunger valve so that the decrease in pressure before the ports 114 are occluded is so trivial that the setting of the packer 15 and slip jaws 18 is not affected and these elements remain firmly set, whereas the shearing of the shear pins 124 frees the rod 19a to move upwardly.

The rod 19a may be replaced to retrieve the valve 10a after first being fitted for such function in the following rnanner. An adapter 135, as shown in FIG. 9, having an internally threaded collar or upper member 128, is threaded upon the externally threaded lower end portion of the rod 19a. Below the collar 128 the adapter 135 includes a bridge 129 having a drilled and tapped hole 131) therethrough to receive the externally threaded upper end 131 of a tubular member 132. Also, below the bridge or partition member 129 a number of latch prongs 133 extend downwardly, there being four or more of these equally angularly and radially spaced from the vertical center line of the adapter 127. The fingers 134 of the latch prongs 133 may be beads welded to the stock metal of the prongs, or may be machined from stock.

With the adapter 135 installed, as hereinabove described, the rod 1% is passed downwardly through the lubricator 129 and through the replaced or repaired master valve 24 within the Christmas tree, the valve 24 being open as this occurs, all as hereinabove described in the case of the outer rod 19 and inner rod 22 in the form of invention shown in FIGS. 1-6, incluisve. Then with the stufling box and gland assemblies tightened, hydraulic fluid may be used to move the rod 19a downwardly. In this case, the flange 126 on the rod 1% is in upper position just below the connection fitting 99.

The hose 81 and 36 have been switched back to the positions shown in FIG. 7 and the valves 34a, 1% and 101 are closed, and the valves 44, 98, 83, 34 and 80 are open. The pump, not shown, then supplies fluid through the hose 36, valve 44, header pipe 32, T 33a, horizontal flow line 97, T 95, valve 98 and fitting 99 into the pipe compartment 38a to urge against the flange 126 to force the rod 19a downwardly until the adapter 135 on the lower end of the rod 19a engages the valve a. This engagement consists of the latch prongs 133 passing downwardly over the upper end portion of the valve body 29a until the latch fingers 134 engage in the groove 127. As this occurs the pipe nipple or tubular member, which passes through the central bore 119 in the sto and guide plate 121 engages the top of the plunger or piston head 112 to urge the shank 113 downwardly until the ports 114 therein are in full communication with the chamber 117. This relieves the fluid pressure on the upper stem head 110 so that the springs 109 thereunder urge the upper stem 50c upwardly so that the top of the plunger head 110 strikes the lower end face of the shank 113.

The lower stem 50d, connected to the upper stem 500, thus also moves upwardly to lift its lower flange, corre sponding with the lower flange 48 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. This frees the packer to expand, assuredly as urged upwardly by the spring corresponding with the return spring 78 in FIG. 2. This upward movement moves the wedge 67 upwardly, causing the slip jaw T-slot surfaces 71 to slide on the tapered wedge member surfaces '70 to retract the slip jaws 18 inwardly, as hereinabove described. Then, with the master valve 24 open and the stufling box and gland assemblies 43, 43a and 42, 42a loosened, the rod 19a and the valve 10a attached may be withdrawn upwardly.

Such withdrawal may be accomplished, as aforesaid, by operating the fluid transfer apparatus with the hose 81 connected to the discharge of the pump, not shown, and w th the hose 36 connected to the reservoir or suction side. In this case, the valves 80, 34, 83, 98 and 44 are open, and the valves 34a, 101 and 102 are closed.

The structures and usages, hereinabove described are not the only structures included by the invention, but the invention includes a wide range of structures and usages as long as such may fall within the broad spirit of the invention and within the broad scope of interpretation claimed for and merited by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve including a tubular housing having a pair of opposed windows and a pair of opposed slots extending through the lower end of said housing, an internally threaded bushing and set screw means to releasably position said bushing in said housing above said windows, an upper stem having a section externally threadably engageable with said bushing and a flange therebelow, a lower stem having an upper end threadably engageable into said upper stem thereabove and a flange therebelow, a packer setter including a head insertable upwardly into said housing, a bridge therebelow slidable in said slots and a sleeve below said bridge slidable upon said housing lower section, a packer retaining closure threadably connected upwardly to said housing lower section and having a packer retaining flange therebelow, a packer slidable on said closure above said retaining flange and below said packer setter sleeve, a pair of slip jaws passable through said windows with inner faces tapered downwardly and inwardly from top to bottom, a wedge member slidable upon said lower stem with outer Wedge faces tapered for tapered slidable engagement with said slip jaw inner faces, and a member connected to said upper stem, whereby rotation of said member moves said upper stem downwardly so that upper stem flange urges said wedge to urge said slip jaws outwardly to engage within a tubing, and said sleeve urges downwardly on said packer to deform said packer outwardly into sealing engagement against said tubing.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 which includes a stem comprising a hollow rod with a closed upper end and means for releasably connecting said rod and said valve housing.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 which includes a stem comprising a hollow rod having said member therewithin, means adapting said hollow rod for releasable connection to said valve housing, said inner rod and the top of said upper rod being adapted for engagement therebetween.

4-. A valve including a tubular housing providing windows and also providing slot means extending through the lower end of said housing, :a bushing releasably positionable in said housing above said windows, an upper stem threadably engageable in said bushing and having a flange therebelow, a lower stem with upper end threadably engageable into said upper stem and having a flange therebelow, a packer setter insertable upwardly into sald housing and slidable below said lower stem in said slot means and having a sleeve lowermost to slide upon said housing and slidable below said lower stern in sail slot means and having a sleeve lowermost to slide upon said housing, a packer retaining closure threadably connected upwardly with said housing and having a packer retaining flange therebelow, a packer slidable on said closure above said retaining flange and below said packer setter sleeve, slip jaws passable through said windows with inner faces tapered downwardly and inwardly from top to bottom, a wedge member slidable upon said lower stem with outer wedge faces tapered for slidable engagement with said slip jaw inner faces, and a member connected to said upper stem, whereby rotation of said member moves said upper stem downwardly in said bushing so that said upper stern flange urges said wedge to urge said slip jaws outwardly to engage within a tubing, and said sleeve urges downwardly on said packer to deform said packer outwardly into sealing engagement against said tubing.

5. A valve including a tubular housing, a mandrel assembly including an upper end to be threadably received through said housing and also including below said upper end an upper flange and a lower flange spaced therefrom, a slip setting wedge mounted to slide upon said mandrel between said flanges, slip jaws engageable in tapered contact with said wedge and extendable from said housing, a packer setter on and within said housing below said lower flange, a packer retaining bottom closure for said housing and providing a packer retaining flange below said housing, a packer slidable on said closure above said retaining flange and below said packer setter, and a member connected to said upper end, whereby rota tion of said member moves said mandrel assembly threadably downwardly in said housing whereby said upper flange urges said wedge to urge said slip jaws outwardly to engage within a tubing, and said packer setter urges downwardly on said packer to deform said packer outwardly into sealing engagement against said tubing.

6. A closure valve assembly including an outer tubular rod and an inner rod passed sealably downwardly thereinto, a petroleum well lubricator having an upper compartment, an upper gland, a central open space, and a lower gland, said inner rod being positioned within said outer rod and extending thereabove, means sealing between said inner rod and the upper end of said outer rod, said inner and outer rods being positioned to extend through said lubricator with said upper and lower glands sealing about said outer rod said closure valve including a tubular housing to which said outer rod is shear pin connected and a mandrel assemblly including an upper end extending thereabove for connection to said inner rod, a Christmas tree having well bore flow tubing, said lubricator being connected to said Christmas tree with said rods and closure valve extending into said flow tubing, means to pump fluid into said lubricator above said upper compartment to urge said inner rod and said outer rod therewith downwardly as said outer rod serves as a piston, said mandrel assembly including below said upper end an upper flange and a lower flange spaced therefrom, a slip setting wedge slidably mounted on said mandrel between said flanges, slip jaws engageable in tapered contact with said wedge and extendable from said housing, a packer setter 0n and within said housing below said lower flange, a packer retaining bottom closure for said housing and providing a packer retaining flange therebelow and, a packer slidable on said closure above said retaining flange and below said packer setter, and a member connected to said upper end, whereby rotation of said member moves said mandrel assembly threadably downwardly in said housing whereby said upper flange urges said wedge to urge said slip jaws outwardly to engage within a tubing, and said packer setter urges downwardly on said packer to deform said packer outwardly into sealing engagement against said 40 tubing.

7. A valve including a (a) tubular housing,

(b) a mandrel assembly including an (c) upper end to be received threadably through said tubular housing, said mandrel assembly providing below said upper end, a

(d) first downwardly bearing surface and a (e) second downwardly bearing surface spaced below said first surface, a

(f) slip setting wedge mounted to slide upon said mandrel between said first and second surfaces,

(g) slip jaws engageable in tapered contact with said wedge and extendable from said housing, a

(h) packer setter on and within said housing below said second surface, a

(i) packer retaining bottom closure for said housing and providing (j) packer retaining flange below said housing, a

(k) packer slidable on said closure above said retaining flange and below said packer setter, and a (l) member connected to said upper end, whereby rotation of said member moves said mandrel assembly threadably downwardly in said housing whereby said first surface urges said wedge to urge said slip jaws outwardly to engage within a tubing and said packer setter urges downwardly on said packer to deform said packer outwardly into sealing engagement against said tubing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,122,749 7/1938 Morrisett 166140 2,223,099 11/1940 Fisher 166-140 2,303,556 12/1942 Johnson et al 166124 2,337,733 12/1943 Burns 166140 X 2,565,736 8/l95l McCarvell 166139 X 2,689,612 9/1954 Sawyer 166l40 X 2,704,579 3/1955 Brown 166139 X 2,758,654 8/1956 Simmons 166-77 2,888,079 5/1959 Cypher 166-l39 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

IAN C. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

